Polarizing 35 Terraplane generator

35 Terraplane
35 Terraplane Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Need some help regarding polarizing the generator on my 35 Terraplane Special "G". The car is original and is equipped with the AutoLite cutout relay with the generator output controlled by the third brush in the generator. Per a diagram in my owners manual and visual inspection there is one wire coming off the generator terminal marked “A”going to the cutout relay and the “F” terminal on the generator has an external grounding cup grounding it to the generator outer casing. Per the owners manual diagram the “F” terminal is the stator and the “A” terminal is the armature/brush. Can the generator be polarized by touching a jumper from the negative battery terminal to the “F” terminal?

Tom King

Auburn, NY

Comments

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    No, Nein, nyet, negative. Did I indicate not to do this, as you will be providing a direct short to ground, and allyou will get wil lbe a very large spark or flash. You just momentarily connect the battery voltage to the A. terminal. Why do you want to do this?

    Geoff.
  • 35 Terraplane
    35 Terraplane Senior Contributor
    Geoff,

    I also disconnect the battery between driving the car as I'm concerned about the old wiring. I've read that the generator can lose polarity if let sit. The bigger problem I have is as follows. I had the generator repaired as it was not charging the battery. The shop that did the work told me one of the windings was bad and repaired it. They said they polarized it on the bench. After installing it the "A" light on the dash still remains lit. I then replaced the cutout relay but the "A" light still remains on. The shop that did the work told me they had set the third brush to a sufficent output that it would charge the battery but it doesn't appear to be enough to close the cutout relay. I though maybe part of the problem was that the generator was not polarized correctly.

    Tom
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    It would be useful to buy an inexpensive volt-amp meter and see what voltage the gen is producing at a reasonable rpm, and whether it's correct polarity. It shouldn't take much above idle speed to close the relay, and at an rpm equivalent to 30-40 mph should be producing at least 7 volts.
  • 35 Terraplane
    35 Terraplane Senior Contributor
    How would the multi meter be used to check polarity. I've never done much with electronics but am giving it a try with any help I can get. The car is positive ground.

    Tom
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    You would connect the meter with the positive lead to ground and the neg lead to the generator output, and if the needle tries to go the wrong direction, the polarity is reversed. If a digital meter, it would show as a negative reading.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Tom, thank you for explaining. Polarise the generator, and then see if the light goes out. The cut-out should close at around 6.5 volts at the A terminal. Good luck,

    Geoff.
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